Sharjah has approved plans for Al Freish Lake in Kalba, a 51,200-square-metre family destination of green mountains, cascading waterfalls and walking areas on the emirate's east coast.
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, signed off on the scheme. The lake will hold up to 28 million gallons of water and stretch about 750 metres behind Al Marsh Square.
What is planned
Visitors will be able to park at ground level and explore the site on foot. Trees are already being planted on the mountainside, with waterfalls designed to run through the greenery. Khaleej Times reports that the Ruler has compared the planned experience with Al Rafisah Dam in Khorfakkan, a popular outdoor spot where families kayak, use pedal boats and linger at cafes overlooking the water.
No opening date has been announced for Al Freish itself.
Kalba's wider build-out
Al Freish sits in a city that has been filling with nature attractions for several years. Kalba lies about 120km east of Sharjah city and roughly 12km south of Fujairah. Nearby draws already include the Hanging Gardens on the Sharjah-Kalba Road. Al Hefaiyah Lake is another large reservoir nearby, built to collect rain and valley runoff as well as give families trails and rest spots.
Earlier in 2026 the Ruler said several Kalba projects were due to open in December, including work around Jebel Deem. Separate plans still in the mix include the Al Hiyar lake and rest area, a Kalba Heritage Museum framed as a "living museum", and the Shell Theatre, with an entrance approached through a passage beneath the water. Those are wider city projects, not part of the Al Freish lake brief.
Why it matters for residents
East-coast day trips already pull Dubai and Sharjah families toward Khorfakkan and Kalba on cooler weekends. Another walkable lake park behind Al Marsh Square would give them one more stop that does not depend on a theme-park ticket. Until an inauguration date lands, treat Al Freish as approved and under way rather than open.